Improvement in bird-cages



A. L. EDWARDS.

Bird-Cages.

No. 166,596. Patented Aug.10,l875.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT L. EDWARDS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BIRD-CAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,596, dated August 10, 1875 application filed February 2, 1875.

- possess the qualifications of providing for the health and comfort of the occupant; may be .easily kept clean and free from vermin, and

well ventilated; prevent the contents of the cage from being scattered outside thereof; combine strength with lightness; give an unobstructed view of the occupant, and present a neat, handsome, and ornamental appearance. To this end my invention consists, first, in the combination of an open ventilating and body-supporting ring or hoop, a glass body, and an open ventilating top or cap; and, further, in a novel construction and arran gement of parts, whereby provision is made for the suspension of the cage and the comfort of its occupant.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 isa side view of a bird-cage constructed according to one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken in the line 00 m of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view.

A represents a base, which may be constructed of wood or metal, and may be of circular, elliptical, or angular outline, and its edges may be in the form of a molding, a, for the purpose of giving it an ornamental finish. The under and inner surface of the base is fitted to receive a removable floor, B, which is held in place by elastic pivoted buttons b. If desired, however, the floor B may be in one piece with the base. In either case the inner surface of the base is inclined inward and upward, and the floor is situated below the upper edge thereof, so that the chaff and litter is prevented from being scattered outside of the cage. Near the upper edge of the base is a rabbet or groove, 0, in which rests the lower edge of a ring or hoop, D, which is prevented from lateral displacement by means of a rim, 0", projecting upward from said groove 0. The ring D may be made of wire, sheet metal, or any other suitable material. When made in the form shown therein it is composed of two wire rings, (1 01 connected by vertical wires (1 the lower ends of which pass through holes in the lower ring al and are fastened by riveting, soldering, or by compressing the metal around the holes. The upper ends of the wires (1 pass through holes in the upper ring d which are made from the lower inner side of the ring diagonally upward and outward, and the wires are bent in a corresponding direction, their extreme upper ends 01 extending upward above the ring (1 as shownin Fig. 4. The lower ring (1- is secured to the base A by means of hooks of the form shown in the drawing, or by any other suitable fastenings. The ring or hoopD serves to support the body F, the lower edge of which rests upon the ring 01 andis prevented from lateral displacement by means of the upwardly-projecting ends (1 of the wires (1 It also serves to ventilate the cage and allow a free circulation of air through the lower portion thereof. This object would be accomplished if the ring D were made of perforated sheet metal or some other suitable material. In order to insure the safety of the birds from cats or rat-s, if the ring D is made of wires they must be sufficiently close together, and if made of sheet metal or other material the perforations must be sufficiently small to prevent access of cats or rats to the inside of the cage. The wires 01 or sheet metal composing the ring D, may be bent outward in a curved or angular form, as shown, between the upper and lower edges. When the ring or hoop is made of sheet metal or other material than wire, the ends d are replaced by a rim for the purpose of holding the body F in place. The ring is provided with a door, D", to allow of the egress and ingress of the bird without removing the body of the cage.

The body F is made of glass, and may be of one piece, or of several pieces suitably connected together. When made in one piece it is of dome form, and may have its sides vertical or tapering, and its cross-section may be circular, elliptical, or angular. In the form shown herein the sides are cylindrical and the top rounded. In the center of the top is an aperture, f, which may be formed in any suitable manner either during the process of making the body or afterward. Over this aperture f rests the top G, which may be of wood, metal,

or other suitable material of cup-like form, and is provided with perforations g for purposes of ventilation.

For'the purpose of suspending the cage the following means are provided: A number of wires, H, preferably three, have their lower ends arranged to connect with the ring d, or upper edge of the ring or hoop D, by hooks passing through holes, or in an y other suitable manner. The wires H pass upward parallel with the sides of the body F, inside thereof, and without touching the same, to about where the curve or spring of the arch or dome-commences, and are then bentinward and upward, so as to come close together in or near the aperture fin the top of the body F, where they are attached to a nut, J. A bolt, K, with its lower portion threaded, passes through'a hole in the top or cap G, and engages with the nut J, by which means the cap G is held in place. The body is held in position on the ring D, and means for handling and suspending the cage are provided, the bolt having an eye,

ring, or loop, k, at its upper end. The cap G may be ornamented in any suitable manner, and, if desired, it may be surmounted by a bowl or vase for holding out flowers or growing plants or vines. The wires H being in-' side of the glass body, without touching the same, there is no danger of breakage therefrom, and the body may be lifted off, when desired, without interfering with the attachment of the wires to the ventilating ring or hoop. .In addition, the wires furnish means for the attachment of perches for "the bird.

7 At the points where the wires converge inward they are braced by a. spreader, consisting of bars L, which may be arranged in a triangular form, as shown, or in any other manner that will accomplish the same purpose. The bars L serve as perches for the birds, and prevent them from alighting over the center of the floor. Below the bars L are short perches M, only long enough for a single bird, and thus serving as places of refuge and rest for the weaker bird in cases where two or more are kept in one cage. The perches M are attached to the wires H by means of sockets m, or the perch may be made in one piece with the socket, if preferred. Below the perches M are perches N, the ends of which rest upon the upper edge of the ring or hoop D. All of the perches are so arranged as to prevent the bird from alightingimmediately over the center of the floor, but allow the central portion of the cage to remain clear and present space enough for the movements of the bird. In the center of the floor is a combined feed-cup and drinking-fountain, which is the subject-matter of another application for patent.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bird-cage, constructed of thebase A, metallic open ring or hoop D, glass body F, having an open top, and resting upon and supported by the ring or hoop, and a ventilatingcap, G, arranged on the top of the glass body over its open top,.all substantially as described.

2. The combination of the ring or hoop D, the suspension-wires H, glass body F, top or cap G, and bolt K, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described- 3. The combination, with the suspensionwires H, of the spreader L, as shown and described for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the glass body F, the ends 01 of the wires d extending upward from the ring D, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

ALBERT L. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL RYAN, VERNON H. HARRIS. 

